The committee will advise the Student Assembly on all academic matters at Cornell. Committee members will research, review, recommend, and develop projects to improve academic life for the student body. This committee will work closely with the Dean of Students and the Faculty Senate to ensure that students’ concerns related to academic policy are voiced effectively to university officials. Membership to be selected by the Assembly. Chair to be elected by the Assembly.

This committee shall serve as a programmatic body to increase the availability of resources to address pressing needs of the Student Body. It will also work to combat all forms of bias including, but not limited to, sexism, racism, xenophobia, anti-semitism, homophobia, and transphobia through programmatic implementation and workshops for the Cornell Community.

The Communications Committee helps to bridge the disconnect between campus and the Student Assembly. The Assembly strives to foster collaborative student activities, as well as inform the student body about the Student Assembly initiatives, meetings, and resolutions. The committee will ensure a direct and ever present link between students active in campus government, the administration, and students at-large and will relay student interest to the Assembly. The committee will assist in furthering the outreach efforts of the assembly by aiding in the coordination of Assembly-sponsored events including, but not limited to conducting polls, referenda, community outreach forums, designated constituency events, and hearings. The committee will also assist in coordinating efforts and devising strategies to involve more non-voting members in the decisions and events of the Assembly. The Assembly plans recreational events for students. The committee shall consist of at least 10 members, including the Chairs of the Sub-Committees. The Vice President for Communications will serve as Chair of the Committee.

The Dining Services Committee will work to represent student interests in the Cornell food system. The Chair will work with the Director to select relevant administrators and staff to be present at meetings. Members will collectively review the policies and initiatives of Dining Services, and make recommendations to Student Assembly and Dining Services leadership for improving existing policies or integrating new ideas. The committee will consist of at least one faculty member, two Dining student workers and/or Dining Student Sustainability Coordinators, one graduate/professional student, and additional undergraduate students. Additionally, the Director of Dining (or a designee) and the Budget Director of Dining shall serve ex-officio. The chair shall be elected by the Assembly.

The committee shall serve as the body through which the Assembly, the diversity councils of the undergraduate schools and colleges, the Office of Academic Diversity Initiatives (OADI), and the Center for Intercultural Dialogue coordinate their efforts to promote awareness and understanding of the increasing importance of diversity and create an environment that brings together diverse perspectives and fosters diversity of thought. The committee shall be a meeting grounds for interested students to meet members of the administration to brainstorm, formulate and lead implementable policies in the field of diversity and inclusion; review the efforts of the Diversity Committee and diversity councils of the colleges; provide a brief report of its progress to be presented by the Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to the Assembly by the final meeting in the fall semester, as well as a full report to include (but not limited to) the goals of the academic year, the strategies devised for achievement of these goals, the progress of UDC initiatives, college- specific initiatives, obstacles, and potential goals for the next academic year to be presented in the same manner at the final meeting of the spring semester. Student members of the committee may be recruited from institutions and organizations such as the diversity councils of the colleges, Women’s Resource Center, Center for Intercultural Dialogue, ALANA, Haven Executive board, Cornell Outdoor Education, International Student Union and any member of the Cornell student body who is interested in diversity initiatives. The LGBTIA+ Liaison at-large, Women’s representative, International representative, both Minority Liaisons, First Generation Students Representative, Students with Disabilities Representative, and the Vice President for Communications are required to be members of the committee. The Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion of the Student Assembly will chair the Diversity and Inclusion committee. 

The commission will research issues affecting the campus and its surrounding area, as well as provide recommendations for reducing Cornell’s environmental impact. The committee will be charged with creating new legislation and enforcing past environmental legislation. This committee is also charged with providing environmental education and outreach in order to better inform students and the campus community about the campus’s environmental impact and sustainability issues. The committee will work closely with students, administrators, student environmental organizations, the Cornell Sustainability Office, the Campus Planning Committee, the Campus Infrastructure Committee, and the City and Town of Ithaca Sustainability to better recognize and address the environmental concerns of the campus and its community as well as to encourage collaboration in working toward the creation of a more sustainable environment. The committee should coordinate and report their operations with the Campus Sustainability Office. Membership to be selected by the Assembly. Chair to be elected by the Assembly.

The Executive Cabinet shall be a sub-committee of the Executive Board. The Cabinet shall advise the Executive Board on the operations of the Student Assembly and promote collaboration between the offices and committees of the Assembly. The Cabinet shall consist of the Members of the Executive Board, the Chairs of the Policy, Finance, Communications, and Diversity Committees, the Directors of the Presidential Offices, and the Directors of the Independent Offices. The Cabinet shall be chaired by the Executive Vice President.

The Committee reviews all requests for Assembly funding as well as the policies and guidelines regarding the Student Activity Fee and those organizations which receive funding from it. The Committee shall consist of the chair, 8 voting members of the Assembly, 7 undergraduates at-large , 1 freshman undergraduate, and 1 freshman or transfer voting member of the Assembly. The Chairs of the Sub-Committees, if not already members, shall hold non-voting seats. The Director of the Office of the Assemblies or their designee shall serve as an ex-officio non-voting member. No SAFC Commissioners shall serve as voting members of the Committee. The Vice President for Finance shall be Chair.

The committee will examine the financial aid policies of Cornell University. It shall also be responsible for the administration of the Student Helping Students grant. The committee shall consist of a chair and up to 12 undergraduate students, at least four-fifths of whom receive some form of institutionalized financial aid. The Vice Provost for Enrollment, the Executive Director of the Office of Financial Aid, the Senior Assistant Director of the Office of Financial Aid, a counselor from the Office of Financial Aid, and two faculty members shall serve as ex-officio, non-voting members. Chair to be elected by the Assembly.

The SAIF Commission (SAIFC) of the Assembly is responsible for evaluating applications for funding through the SAIF. The rules governing the operation of the SAIFC are contained in Appendix C of the Charter. The Commission should consult and collaborate with the Campus Sustainability Office on projects related to sustainability. Additionally, The Commission should consult and collaborate with Campus and Community Engagement and/or the Dean of Students Office on long-term projects. The Commission shall consist of no more than 17 commissioners. The commissioners must include five voting members of the Assembly, consisting of a Chair, three Assembly members, and one New Student voting member of the Assembly, internally elected following the Fall election. The remaining commissioners will consist of at least seven and no more than twelve undergraduate students. No SAFC Commissioners shall serve as voting members of the SAIFC (with the exception of the VP Finance). The Director of the Office of the Assemblies or their designee shall serve as an ex-officio non-voting member. Chair to be elected by the Assembly.

The committee will research and investigate issues affecting international students and provide recommendations to the Student Assembly. The committee will be responsible for engaging, liaising, and communicating with the various cultural organizations that represent and advocate for the rights and needs of international students. The International Students Affairs Committee will be charged with creating a platform that allows undergraduate students, both domestic and international, to collaborate to craft legislation that provides additional support to international students and international student organizations. The committee shall consist of the chairs and at least three Assembly members. The International Students-Liaison At-Large Liaison will be required to serve on this committee. Chair to be elected by the Assembly.

The Office will coordinate and implement regularly scheduled and special elections of the Assembly and directly elected undergraduate representatives to the UA. The Office of Elections shall be affiliated as an independent office of the Cornell Student Assembly.

The mission of the Office of Ethics shall be to pursue any necessary ethics concerns of Assembly members and directly elected undergraduate representatives to the UA. The Office will evaluate all requests submitted by community members that are against any Assembly members, Assembly committees, or directly elected undergraduate representatives of the UA. The Office of Ethics shall be affiliated as an independent office of the Cornell Student Assembly.

The Office of Ethics can be reached via email at sa-ethics@cornell.edu.

Please submit any ethical complaints via the Office of Ethics Qualtrics form.

The Office of Student Government Relations includes three branches: (1) Local Relations, (2) State Relations, (3) Federal Relations. The Offices of the President shall report to the President directly. Members of the offices shall be nominated by the President, and shall serve at the pleasure of the President.

The Office of Student Government Relations can be reached via email at sa-osgr@cornell.edu.

The Office of the Student Advocate is made up of undergraduate students acting as caseworkers in different fields to navigate issues including conduct violations, grade disputes, enrollment issues, financial aid problems, residency concerns, discrimination and harassment. The Offices of the President shall report to the President directly. Members of the offices shall be nominated by the President, and shall serve at the pleasure of the President.

The Office of the Student Advocate can be reached via email at sa-student-advoc@cornell.edu.

The Policy Committee shall be responsible for the policy creation process within the Student Assembly. The Policy Committee will collaborate with the Department of Student and Campus Life on concerns of interest to the student body. The Committee shall consist of at least 10 members of the Student Assembly, including the Chair of each Sub-Committee. The Vice President for Policy shall be the Chair.

The Committee will represent the interests of students employed by the University in any capacity. The Committee will be charged with making recommendations to the University regarding the working conditions, wages, benefits, and well-being of student workers as well as the policies regulating student employment. The Committee will work in partnership with the Office of Financial Aid and Student Employment to ensure that Cornell provides sustainable and equitable opportunities for its undergraduate student body.

The Committee shall be chaired by the Student Workers’ Representative. In the event that the Student Workers' Representative seat is vacant, the chair shall be elected by the Assembly.

The committee will work in conjunction with Cornell Health to examine healthcare policies improve student health, wellness, and safety, and act as a form of open communication between student voices and Cornell Health administration. The committee will consist of a Steering Committee, which is made up of an Assembly & GPSA co-chair, committee chairs(s) from each respective sub-committee, a SHBAC liaison, an SDS liaison, and designated Cornell Health administration. The recognized subcommittees of the student Health Advisory Committee are: Patient Care, Sexual Health and Gender Services, Health and Wellness, Student Health Benefits, and the Mental Health Standing Committee. The Assembly co-chair will be held by a member of the Assembly and the committee will be under the supervision of the Assembly & GPSA co-chairs.

The Technology Committee shall review, investigate, and provide recommendations on policies, programs, and initiatives related to Cornell Technology. The committee will serve as the primary student voice on issues including digital tools and platforms, IT infrastructure, classroom and learning technologies, cybersecurity, accessibility, and policies concerning emerging technologies such as generative AI. The committee will work in close consultation with the Governance Liaison and with relevant Cornell IT offices to ensure meaningful and consistent student representation in University decision-making. 

The IT Governance Liaison of the Student Assembly shall serve as Chair of the Technology Committee if they are an active voting member of the Assembly. If the IT Governance Liaison is a non-voting member, the committee shall instead be co-chaired by the Governance Liaison and one voting member of the Assembly, selected by the Assembly.